Ukrainian Man Declared Dead Due to DNA Error Returns Home After Captivity.

Nazar Daletskyi Comes Home

According to TSN.ua: On February 5, 2023, Nazar Daletskyi returned to Ukraine after spending nearly four years in Russian captivity. His homecoming came as a shock to his family, who had held a funeral for him after a flawed DNA test led them to believe he had died. His mother, 72-year-old Natalia Daletska, received a phone call on the very day of his return, learning that her son was alive despite the burial the family had already conducted.

Daletskyi was 46 years old when he was released. During his time in captivity, he lost 15 kilograms. In May 2022, his mother was informed that he was being held prisoner, and in October 2022, two soldiers who had returned from captivity confirmed they had seen him. Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s broader conflict—where estimated casualties have surpassed 100,000—Daletskyi’s case stands out as a stark example of how errors can lead to profound personal tragedies.

'Not everyone gets to see their own funeral and find out who cried the most for you.' Nazar Daletskyi

His words capture the emotional weight of his return. Overcome with tears, his mother exclaimed, 'My God, how long I have waited for you, my precious child.' Welcoming him back, one security officer remarked, 'Welcome—you have risen from the dead.'

A Symbol of Hope

Daletskyi’s story highlights not only a personal tragedy but also deeper issues tied to the war. Over 90,000 people remain missing in Ukraine, the majority of them soldiers—a reflection of the immense toll the conflict has taken. His return has become a beacon of hope for countless families still waiting for news of their loved ones.

The case of Nazar Daletskyi underscores both the devastating personal experience of one family and the broader reality facing Ukraine during wartime. With so many Ukrainian soldiers and civilians unaccounted for, the conflict has left deep, lasting wounds. This incident served as a powerful reminder to society of the need to support families longing for updates on their relatives, and of the urgent efforts required to address war crimes and human rights violations.

Stories like this matter because they help preserve the memory of those affected by the war and keep alive the hope that they may one day return.